What's happening these lil courgettes?

Some of the leaves on my little seedlings (courgettes) are turning orangey-brown - what might be the reason? They are on a windowsill, above a radiator - too hot perhaps?



Ignore the one on the right - it's still popping out of the seed shell

 

Probably best to avoid keeping them over rdiator, there should be enough warmth indoors now that they have germinated.

Apart from the brown tips they look healthy enough so I think the brown edge is where they somehow damaged themselves getting free from the seed coat.


I'm not sure if it will weaken them as they continue to develop. As long as they put forth true leaves at the same speed as the non-browned ones I think you'll be OK.

 

Thank you. My aim is to get them outside this weekend


Sent from my GT-N7000

 

Dont,

Keep them indoors but not near a radiator, and spray them a couple of times a day.
They like a bit of humidity.
Only introduce them to outside conditions slowly, just during the day on good days at first.
Planting out should wait until late may or early june, but really it depends on the weather.

 

Ok, thank you. My issue is space, only have space on the Windowsill lol. Are they too tall to keep in the seed tray until I get them out?


Sent from my GT-N7000

 

Personally I'd be looking at 5in pots before planting out.
They grow fast, and you need to hold them back, possibly with lower temperatures, but at the same time, not let them get chilled.

 

So repot into bigger pots but keep indoors for now?



Sent from my GT-N7000

 

That would be my advice I'm afraid. But put out during the day in good weather.

I would not be sowing courgettes until about now down here, I'm not sure where you are in Scotland, but I would have thought maybe a couple of weeks later up there.

 

The pots they are in will soon be too small for the root systems - you don't want them to get all congested and potbound before they can be put outside as they will do less well then. That's why you need to move them up into a bigger pot if you see this happening.

 

It's a bit too cold yet here in Scotland for planting out. Mine are currently in 3" pots in an unheated though well insulated greenhouse. I'm about to repot to 6" and move to a polytunnel for a couple of weeks before planting outside.